Definition of 'Chana'

Definition: Chana or chickpea is one of the oldest legume or pulse known to mankind. It is popular in Europe, Northern Africa and Mediterranean countries, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is high in protein content.

Description: There are two types of Chana. One is desi, which is also called Bengal Gram and is produced majorly in India, Iran, Ethopia and Mexico. The second one is Kabuli, which is also known as safed chana in India. It's mainly cultivated in Mediterranean, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northern Africa and Chile. It is used as an edible seed and can be boiled, fried or grounded into flour for making other dishes. The prices of this commodity fluctuate frequently and are affected by the high substitutability with other pulses, crop situation and existence of fragmented markets.

India is the largest producer and consumer of chana in the world, due to high consumption it is the biggest importer as well for chickpea. Its production domestically accounts for about 40% of the total production of pulses and approximately 67% of the total world production of chikpeas.

In India, Chana derivatives are traded on the following exchanges that are Multi Commodity Exchange, National Multi Commodity Exchange, National Commodity Derivative Exchange and Bikaner Commodity Exchange, in units of 10 metric tonnes. In April 2004, trade in chana futures started on NCDEX platform. The major Chana hubs are in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.